Henri Lefebvre and Education

Space, history, theory

By Sue Middleton

During his lifetime Henri Lefebvre (1901-1991) was renowned in France as a philosopher,
sociologist and activist. Although he published more than 70 books, few were available in English
until The Production of Space was translated in 1991. While this work - often associated with
geography - has influenced educational theorys spatial turn, educationalists have yet to consider
Lefebvres work more broadly.

This book engages in an educational reading of the selection of Lefebvres work that is available in
English translation. After introducing Lefebvres life and works, the book experiments with his
concepts and methods in a series of five spatial histories of educational theories. In addition to
The Production of Space, these studies develop themes from Lefebvres other translated works:
Rhythmanalysis, The Explosion, the three volumes of Critique of Everyday Life and a range of his
writings on cities, Marxism, technology and the bureaucratic state. In the course of these inquiries,
Lefebvres own passionate interest in education is uncovered: his critiques of bureaucratised
schooling and universities, the analytic concepts he devised to study educational phenomena, and
his educational methods.

Throughout the book Middleton demonstrates how Lefebvres conceptual and methodological
tools can enhance the understanding of the spatiotemporal location of educational philosophy and
theory. Bridging disciplinary divides, it will be key reading for researchers and academics studying
the philosophy, sociology and history of education, as well as those working in fields beyond
education including geography, history, cultural studies and sociology.

November 2013 | 208pp

HB: 978-0-415-81080-7: 85.00

For more information visit:

www.routledge.com/9780415810807

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sue Middleton is Emeritus Professor of Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of
Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

For more details, or to request a copy for review please contact:

Rebecca Hogg, Marketing Assistant
Rebecca.Hogg@tandf.co.uk

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